It was Finn, his big brother, his hero, who finally spoke up. “Say what you need to say, brother. We’re all family here.”
The fact that no one had cracked a joke meant they all were taking this seriously.
He closed his eyes as he said the words. “I can’t read.” Being blind to his family’s reaction made it worse, so he popped his eyes back open. “That’s why I dropped out of high school. I’m dyslexic. I have severe double deficit dyslexia, as far as we’ve been able to research.”
Baby finally understood the term deafening silence as the people he loved most in the world just stared at him. The silence seemed to stretch on unbearably.
It was Jess—of course, it was Jess—who finally broke it. “Like Ethan. He has dyseidetic dyslexia, but it’s similar.”
And then everyone started talking at once.
“I thought you were gay.”
“I thought you’d gotten someone pregnant.”
“See, he’s not leaving town, you owe me ten dollars.”
“Does this mean you’re not going to be a mechanic anymore? Because I don’t want to drive all the way into Reddington City, and everyone knows Gringford Auto can’t be trusted.”
The questions and comments all came out so quickly, he couldn’t tell who was saying what.
But it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they knew, they still accepted him, and it wasn’t long before everyone was clamoring to play football.
He spent the rest of the day having individual conversations with those he was closest to. People who felt like they’d failed him—his mom, Finn, and Wavy in particular. They’d all grabbed their desserts and sat outside so they could talk alone as a family.
His mom cried, and Baby felt like shit. But he’d explained to her that over the years, he’d become an expert at compensating and keeping it hidden. Like Quinn had said, he’d developed a lot of other interpersonal skills because he lacked reading ability. He was actually a very good reader, just of people, numbers, and blueprints rather than words.
It also had meant he had to have a serious talk with Cade O’Conner, who had been his best friend since they were in kindergarten. He would have every right to feel betrayed.
But Cade shook his head. “I guess this explains why you did all our math homework and I did all our English homework when we were growing up.”
“I know that since I made this big announcement it seems like I kept this some sort of secret, like a third nipple, but growing up it was how we did things. I didn’t think of it as a secret I kept. It was just business as usual. It’s only been the past few years that I realized how much I was keeping everything hidden.”
Baby explained a little about taking college classes, leaving out the part about Pop’s will.
“You know Peyton and I are more than willing to do whatever that will help. I can pay you back for all the times you helped keep me out of a fight by getting you a tutor or whatever you need.”
Baby glanced over and saw Quinn and Charlie in deep conversation. He pointed toward them. “I think I might have the two best tutors already available in my life.”
Cade slapped him on the back. “That you do, my friend. Charlie will have you scheduled for daily sessions, probably starting tomorrow.”
“If I get to wait that long.”
“And if Charlie can’t figure it out, let me know, and I’ll get Jess right on it.”
They laughed, although they both knew Cade was serious. There wasn’t much that kid couldn’t figure out, despite her young age.
He spent the afternoon enjoying football with all the people closest to him. Quinn even played, fitting right in with everyone. If Boy Riley had been here, he would’ve been a little surprised to watch his big sister catch a pass—almost as surprised as she seemed to be when she’d caught it.
But Phoenix wouldn’t be surprised to see how well everyone liked her. Neither was Baby.
And then she’d shocked the hell out of everyone by doing a perfect side lateral pass to Ethan–a pass she’d seen done a few plays before by the other team—that had allowed the boy to score the winning touchdown.
Ethan’s team had swept them up, his dad putting him on his shoulders.
Baby just walked over to Quinn, hooked an arm around her hips and pulled her against him. “You could’ve cut the other way and made that touchdown yourself, you know,” he said